Sound reproducing apparatus



June 28, 1932. J, I Y 1,864,615

SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1929 INVENTOR E. J. au av ATTORNEY Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN JAY QUINBY, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Application filed December 6, 1929. Serial No. 412,044.

This invention relates to sound reproducing apparatus. More particularly it relates to sound reproducing apparatus arranged so that one person in a room or compartment may listen to radio programs without annoyin others in the same room or compartment.

Tn many instances where a high frequency distribution system is used to supply radio programs to a number of persons in a room 1 or compartment, it has been found desirable to provide some form of means for enabling any one person in the room to listen to the radio program without annoying the other persons. For example, in some instances where such a distribution system is installed to provide entertainment to the passengers of a train, it has been found that some of the passengers do not desire to listen to the radio program, while other passengers are very anxious to be entertained in this manner.

This makes it impracticable to place loud speakers in the various sections of the train and the use of headphones has also been found objectionable due to the discomfort resulting from wearing them.

It is the object of my invention to provide means for transmitting the radio programs to those individuals who desire to listen to them without disturbing the other passengers. The object of my invention is attained by encasing a sound reproducing device such as a telephone receiver of any well known type, in a suitable casing such as a pillow. The listener by placing his ear against the pillow, can hear the radio program without disturbing hi fellow travellers, and at the same time he can recline comfortably in either a Pullman berth or the seat of a chair car.

The sound reproducing apparatus is also 40 adapted to be used in hospitals and similar institutions where a program distribution system is installed. In such cases the apparatus provides a convenient and comfortable means for invalids and convalescents to enjoy radio and other programs. At the same time the apparatus provides the necessary sanitary features.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth in particularity in the appended claims, the

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invention itself, however, as to both its organization and method of operation will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the drawing in which I have indicated diagrammatically several arrangements whereby my invention may be carried into effect.

The details of an approved form of my invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawing in which F ig. 1 illustrates a form which is adapted to be used in a Pullman berth; Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a modification of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 illustrates another modification which is adapted to be used in connection with the seat in a chair car. Referring more particularly to the drawing, in Figs. 1 and 2 a telephone receiver 10 of any well known type is enclosed in a suitable'cushion-like member 11 such as an ordinary stuffed pillow. It is to be understood that while the member 11 is illustrated as an ordinary pillow stuffed with suitable stufling material 12, it may represent a container filled with air, or it may be formed from any suitable means such as a piece of sponge rubber and that the numeral 12 in Fig. 2 represents such sponge rubber, as well.

The telephone 10 is supported within the pillow in any suitable manner, preferably at the approximate center thereof. For instance it may be held in place entirely by means of the material 12 with which the pillow casing is stuffed, or it may be supported by a suitable frame 13 arranged within the pillow casing.

The usual telephone cord 14 provided with the plug 15 is connected to the telephone 10. This cord may be connected to the receiver through to any desired point in the pillow casing. In most instances, however, it will be found desirable to make the connection through a corner of the pillow casing as illustrated.

The pillow may be covered with a suitable pillow slip 1 as a means of providing an attractive decoration and sanitary protection for each listener. dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The slip 1 is shown in The telephone 10 may be arranged to emit sound waves from one side only or it may consist of a special device 16 such as a pair of telephones placed back to back, so that sound waves are emitted from both sides. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 3.

The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 is adapted to be used in connection with the seat of a chair car. This arrangement differs from the device illustrated by Fi 1 only in so far as it is provided with suita 1e supporting means such as a hook-like member 17 secured to the cushion 11 and adapted to be placed over the top of the chair bacir 18.

Various other modifications and arrangements may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and it is to be understood that I do not intend to be limited by the particular modifications illustrated, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a telephone receiver, a cushionlike member including cushioning material completely surrounding said receiver on 'all sides thereof, the sound waves from said telephone receiver being transmitted through the cushioning material of said cushion-like member.

2. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a cushion-like member, a telephone receiver positioned within said member, and a supporting form within said member for holding said telephone receiver in place.

3. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a telephone receiver provided with a pair of diaphragms for radiating sound waves in opposite directions, and a resilient cushion-like member completely surrounding said telephone receiver.

4. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a telephone receiver, a cushionlike member completely surrounding said receiver, and means connected to said member for supporting said member from the back of a chair.

5. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a cushion-like member, a telephone receiver positioned within said cushion-like member substantially at the center thereof, means within said member providing a positionin form for said receiver and a telephone cor connected to said telephone receiver and extending through said cushionlike member substantially at a corner thereof.

6. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a telephone receiver, a sponge rubber cushion-like member surrounding said receiver, and means providing a. receiver iupporting form arranged within said mem- 7. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a cushion-like member including a sponge rubber cushioning material and a telephone receiver positioned within said material and surrounded thereby, means being provided at substantially the center of the material to positively maintain said receiver in place.

8. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a telephone receiver, a cushionlike member including sponge rubber cushioning material completely surrounding said receiver on all sides thereof, the sound waves from said telephone receiver being transmitted through the cushioning material of said cushion-like member.

9. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a cushion-like member provided with sponge rubber cushioning material, a telephone receiver positioned within said member, and a supporting form positioned within said material for holding said telephone receiver in place.

10. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a telephone receiver provided with a pair of diaphragms for radiating sound waves in opposite directions, and a.

yieldable cushion-like member completely surrounding said telephone receiver.

EDWIN JAY QUINBY.

DISCLAIMER 1,864,615.-Edw'n Jay Quinby, Yonkers, N. Y. SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS.

Patent dated June 28, 1932. Disclaimer filed August 22, 1933, by the assignee,

Radio Corporation of America; 1

Hereby enters this disclaimer to the said claims of said Letters Patent which are in the following words, to wit: 7

1. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a telephone receiver, a cushion-like member including cushioning material completely surrounding said receiver on all sides thereof, the sound waves from said telephone receiver being transmitted through the cushioning material of said cushion-like member.

2. An individual sound reproducing device comprising a cushion-like member, a telephone receiver positioned within said member, and a supporting form within said member for holding said telephone receiver in place.

[Ofiicial Gazette September 19, 1.933.] 

